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Garibaldi Lake is the hike everyone in Vancouver eventually does, and the one a surprising number of people do badly. It's about 18 km round trip from the Rubble Creek trailhead with roughly 820 metres of climbing, most of it on those famous (infamous) switchbacks through the forest. The lake at the end is absurdly turquoise and worth every step.
But it's a full day, and the difference between a great day and a miserable one is mostly what's in your pack. Here's exactly what I bring.
Garibaldi Provincial Park requires a free day-use pass in peak season, booked through BC Parks. Check the current rules before you drive to Squamish and find out at the gate. Also: this is bear country. Make noise, keep food sealed, know what to do.
You're carrying water, food and layers for 6 to 8 hours, so a real daypack matters. The Osprey Talon 22 is the sweet spot: 22 litres swallows everything on this list, and the ventilated back panel earns its keep on the switchbacks. Amazon.ca
The Garibaldi switchbacks are relentless but well graded. Where poles pay for themselves is the descent, 800 metres straight down on tired legs. Your knees will write you a thank-you note. The Overmont aluminum poles collapse small enough to strap on your pack for the flat sections. Amazon.ca
The full carry for this hike is 3+ litres per person, which is heavy. My approach: start with 2 litres and bring the Sawyer Squeeze. Barrier Lake, Lesser Garibaldi and Garibaldi itself give you refill points along the upper half. The filter weighs less than a granola bar. Amazon.ca
Six hours becomes eight. The photo stops add up. The Black Diamond Spot 400-R headlamp lives in my pack whether I plan to need it or not, and twice on this trail I've needed it. Amazon.ca
Pack: Osprey Talon 22 or similar. Footwear: broken-in hikers or grippy trail runners. Water: 2L plus Sawyer filter. Food: lunch plus double the snacks you think. Layers: rain shell and a warm layer, the lake sits at 1,470 m and it's noticeably colder up there. Light: headlamp. First aid: blister kit especially. Navigation: offline map downloaded. Sun: sunscreen and sunglasses, the glare off the lake and the Sphinx Glacier is real. Shoulder season: add touchscreen gloves (Amazon.ca) and check trail reports for snow, which lingers near the lake well into June.
Leave the lake better than you found it. Pack out everything, stay on trail, and let the marmots keep their snacks wild.
Everything on this list is in our Hiking & Trail Running collection, curated from Vancouver for exactly these trails. One tree planted with every purchase.
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